Spark-adjusting starting means for automobiles.



A. L. BIKER. SPARK ADJUSTING STARTING MEANS FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.4,1902.

` Patented Dec.8,1908.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A. L. BIKER. SPARK ADJUSTINGSTARTING MEANS FOB. AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED IVIOV.4,19D2.

'Patented Dee. 8, 190s.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A. L. RKER.

SPARK ADJUSTING STARTING MEANS POR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 4,1902.

,29m Patented Dec. 8, '1908 3 SHEETS-SHEET S4 mm y 'ANDREW L. RFKER, orsion'r nILLs, Nrw .is-eser., issienon 'ro rnerLocoivroBiLlrvooM PANY OF AMERICA, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,A CORPORATIGNOF WEST VIRGINIA.

' SPARK- ADJUSTIN G STARTING MEANS FSR AUTMOBILES.

Specification. of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

Application led November 4, 190.2. Serial No. 130,032.

lof'Nevv Jersey', have invented an Improvement in Spark-Adjusting. Starting Means for Automobiles, of which the following Vdescription, in .connection with the accompanying drawings, is a Specification, like letters on the dra-wings re resenting like parts.

AMy invention 'r etes to motorvehicles of tietype'cniploying internal combustion encushion for thev reciprocating parts of the -gine's ,f'where1n the'ignition is produced by an .Y f electric spark. f

'15 the sparking and ignition should occur im l ymedietely at the beginning of the Working- In stortingen-internal combustionengine,

strokefof the piston, bntas the engine gathers speed, tbe s arking, must be advanced,

it Ao'ctr'urring at igh s eed, requentlyet orabout. the indie 0f ti e return stroke next preceding the working stroke, this early ig. nit-ion being necessary lnot only to'urnish ,e

engine, but also to provide the expansive `power resulting from the ignition in snicient time toperform its Work in driving the .provide motor vehicles with suitable speed responsive, governing'menns, which shall advance the sparking ih proportion to the increase of speed, but I have found it diffi- 'cult to provide a speed responsive device or vgovernor Awhich shall be reliable and properly responsive vat high speeds and which will also produce the required adjustmentsl of contacts at very low speeds, particularly when'the engine is stopped and' the 'contacts are .to be lett in position for again startingl the. engine.

- M present invention comprehends u speed responsive o r 'governing means which shell furnish-the required adjustment of contacts for high ,speeds -in` combination with independent adjusting ineens 'preferably man-A A' ',ually operable for preliminnrily adjusting the' contactsfor sparking in such e manner asto enable-the engine to be' started.v

so j] My invention will best be mamma-fime description of one embodiment thereof in a. typical motor vehicle.

Referring to the drawings- Figure 1, in

side elevation, illustrates a typical motor veiiele equipped with devices illustrating' o'ne 5t? "embodiment o my invention; Fig. 2 1sA an enlarged'detail of one form of speed respon# sive orgovermng. means; F10'. 3 1s a longi .tudinal section on the'dotted line, 3 3, Fig.

2; Fig. 4 is a detail illustratino' the fixed l:ind 60 movable contacts' and independent means for ,adjustingthe same for starting the engine; and, Fig. 5, a diagram illustra-ting the connections between the governor and throt- -tling devices."

f Referring to the drawings, 'particularlyptd Fig. l, the inotorfvehicle may be of any suitable or desired type, the same as illustrated comprising the steering :md propelling wheels, a, b, thc spring supported frame, c, wf bod-y, c', Vinternal combustion engine,l E, clutch, ci, transmission gear, F, jackshaft', j, suitably connected with and to rotate the propelling or driving wheels, all of which 'are and may be of usuel or desired construc- 'IB- tion, so far as concerns my present invention. Referring ynow particularly to Figs. 2, 3, .and Je, the engine. cranksha ft' as herc'shown,

is-pro vided with a.' pinion, p, which drives a `wheel, 7)', keyed to and rotatingthe shaft, 80- ca, which muy be the com shaft for actuating the valve mechanism of the engine; This wheel, 7)', carries a pair of centrifugal weights, p4, mounted in usual manner, as, for instance, .upon the arms, p, fulcruxned 855.l at 7), upon the Wheel and having their outer Y ends wnt'rolled by springs, p7, tending toj draw'seid weights and arms normally to. l Wards the axis of rotation of the wheel. The free, spring controlled ends of thszffff weighted arms, '39, are connected by links, g .Witi the radial arms, p", of a sleeve', -p.,.

loosely mounted upon thecam shaft,'ea: This sleeve at its outer end, at the left, Fio".

3, carries en insulating head, p, in which; 98 see Fig. 4, is set ,u contaotpiece, p12, the face' of which is Hush with the' peripheral-face of the said head. Thus, the sleeve, pw, czzrrv-v ing this contact menibe-r, pm, not. onlyrotutes' by und-with the com shaft wheel, prbnt it 10i@ has a further movement relative to the said wheel produced -by the varying positions of the centrifu al governor we' hts, p, due to the speed- 0% rotation of sai causesthe said-contact member, p12, to occupv a more'or less advanced osition orleadrelative toits wheel', accor ing to the rotative'speed of the latter.

Back of the insulating head, p, and preferably rotatably carried by the inclosing ca se, p8, referred to, is a plate, which areV mounted and, insulated't erefroxn four contact posts, p1?, (one foreach cylinder of the engine, a four cylinder engine being herein assumed) shown as spaced uniformly QO-degrees .one from the other and j carrying 1 respectively' the` four contact brushes, p", resting at 4their ends upon'the- Yperiphery `of theinsiilating ferredto, and adapted on rotation of the .v said-head to successively make contact with the rotating contact member p""on the said head. Thus, 'at each comp ete rotation of the cam shaft wheel, and the head, p, there occur four sucoessiveclosures of 'the electric lcircuits, said closures for the four cylinders ofthe engine', toigiiite the contents thereof at the proper times for operatin the enginel in the manner herinbefore described. s-,the speed of the engine increases, it is necessary to advance the sparking for the several cylinders, -sinceA increased speed of rotation requires earlier ignition. .This is i'accomplished with the construction shown, 4 35 for as thespeed in ;reasies, the governor weights assume'positions further from their axes 'ofrotation, thus tiirning the sleeve, p1, to advance the 'position of the contactgmem# ber, p, to'cause it to make earlier contact with the several brushes' within which it rotates.

lloontroll the su ply of mixture for the en 'ne-also from Ato ig. 3, the pivot pins in the outer ends of is governor: Referring the radial arms, 72, and to which the links, p", are jointed, which pins are here desi Y nated p15*, are shown as extended throu the wheel, p', the'arms of which are suitab y shaped, to provide sufficient openings therefor, said pins at their remote ends passing through and closely fitting suitable open- A ings in a circumferentially grooved disk, p, loosely mounted upon the hub of .the cam shaft driving wheel, p', so that rocking movement of the radial arms, p", due to the action of the governor weights, will cause a corresponding rocking or rotative movement of the'said disk, p1, lalso on and relativei thslsaid Shame.

i The h b of the disk,p is grooved spirallv at pi', to receive a pin, p, -rojectlng radially from the hubof the whee p so that as the said grooved disk is rocked or rotated back and forth-underA the action of the governor Weights, the spiral groove in the hub thereof Wheel, which head, p -reacting-upon' the radial-pin, p, will cause` the said grooved disk to move axially in one or the other direction, according tothe direction of its rotation, andconsequently, corresponding to the movements Vof the gov- `ernor weights. The groove in theperiphery of this disk,- see Fig. 5, receives the end of a lever, 1, fulcrumed at p2", in the casting, 723, andpbearing at its free end u o n a sprin p21, seated against acollar, p22, ast o n a r p2?. This rod isjointed at p, to an arm,

2225,which is fast upon the u per, end 'of aspindle or stem, n, of any suitable throttle, I'

ter upon return movement 0f z ply of'mixture to*theengiziecylindersfor the same purpose. The centrifugal governor =may therefore be relied upon to maintain a substantially constant speed, whichs -eed may be varied as desired byproper adyust- V ment of the weights and 'their connections. ln operating-,the vehicle, however, it becomesnecessary frequently to, reduce Ythe speed ofthe vehicle 'below that normally maintained by the automatic governor, and it is equally -desirable,.when occasin requires, to 'be able to increase the speed be- `vond that normally maintained by the governor. To p rovide for this l have connected with the cy indrical'tl'irottle arm, p2?, a rod', p27, shown as'leading to and connected with an arm, p, at the bottom of a ro d, p2, mounted in bearingspreferably` upon-and at the side of the steering post, p32, said'rod, 2, being .fitted at' upper end with 'a andle, p31, conveniently arranged vwith reference to the steering handle, p32. Thus the operator, with one or the other of'his hands, while -steering the vehicle, may move the said handle, p31,v in one direction, as to the left, Fig. 5, and thus ,rotate the cylindrical throttle farther than it' rotfated by the o,

automatic goveriior ,and reduce -the supply .of mixture for the engine beyond thatdetermined by the automaticv governor and re- "duce the speed below the -normal governorV speed to any desired extent.V On Vtheother i hand, by swinging said handlein an opposite direction, the throttle may be turned, toA l increase the supply of mixture to the engine to increase its speed, notwithstandin the automatic governor is tending to ho d it down, the spring, 102?, between the rod fp,

the speed be thus increased or reduced rele,-V

tive to the normal governor speed of the engine, the governor res onds to the change in speed, vand immediate the contact member,

ernor or speed responsive device which is sensitive and accurate When-running` at high.

sp'eds, is not usually sensitive or accurate at very-low speeds approaching a stateof rest;

and I have found that While the-governor shown is' capable of 'responding quickly to changes in running speed and keeping the lead ofA the sparking contact p12-always at -a proper oint 'for the particular. speed for the time eing, yet when the machine is stoppedand the parts assume a state of rest,

ysaidlgovernor does not with 4certainty restore the said'contact,v p12, vto the required position to cause ignition at the very begin# ning of' the working strokes of the several A' cylinders. As a rule, a governor of vthis type when stopped will leave the said contact p1? in position where, if the engine be vzio started, it would cause premature ignition,

z'. e., ignition near the close of the return stroke next preceding a Working'A stroke;

which, of course, would 4prove detrimental.

referring to Flg.

To overcome this objection, 4,1 have attached to (or upon the brush 'carrying plate, p13, aA fiexible connection or wire, 50, which is carried to and about a suitable pulleyor sheave', 51, thence upward' to and connected with a handle leven; 52, fiilcrunied at 53, upon a vsuitable support, preferably on'the dash board. The said -l`e ver may be provided as herein shown with a suitable latch device, 54, coperating with a, toothed sector, 55, by which said lever is held in desired position. 1

TA spring, 56, attached to a suitable s iipport is connected with the plate, 7213, said spi-ing tending to rota'te the saidplate noriniilly in a direction -indicated bythe arrow, Fig. 4, to advance the brushes, p, and there by the time ofA sparking; suchrotation of the said plate and brushes being resisted'by the Wire and lever, 52.

Assuming the engine to have stopped with its' movable contact., p12, in the position shown in Fig. 4, and with the brushes in the full line positions in the said figure, such 4position of said contact, 7212, relative to the v cranks and', pistons' of the engines being -siicli iis would furnish the propel' sparking 6.0,

for the engiiieivlien running at normal or slightly reduced speed, obviously would be too early forftlie initial starting 0fthe engine. It is i.inpossible to give. to

the said contact, pf2, a' retrograde movement because of its connections with the y adjust-s thelead o1(l p12, to meet the newv speed. As heretofore stated, however, a govineto derive governor weights, which are in a state of rest; consequently the lever, .52, is dropped into its dotted osition, Fig. 4, thereby per,- mitting the spring, 56, to rotate the plate, p, in the direction of the arrow to advance the brushesrelative to the rotatable contact., p12, whichis equivalent to giving ametrogiade' movement to the said contact to delay the ignition for the several cylinders. The parts are so adjusted that when the said handle' lever, 52, is dropped into its loivermost position, the adjustment. of the brushes will be correct for starting' the engine, that is, for producing the ignition at the commei'icement'` 'of the working stroke of-ea'ch piston. The .engine having been starte after it has acquired such speed that t e governor commences to respond, the handle' lever', 52, is again raised'intojelevated position, thus re,- storing the brush carrying plate,^p3 toits spring, 56, and leaving the control of the s a thegovernorwhich exercises its controlby 'varying the lead of the rotatingcontact, Spi. By this arrangement, .I am enabled to struct 'the' governoriand its connections' with the movable contact in a manner that will produce' the best results and most accurate and sensitive .adjustment of the contacts for running speeds ofthe engine, thus enabling.

throttling of the hmixture herein described.' At the same time, I the ignition contacts provides for the startj ing of the engine, without danger of its re-v versing to the injuryfof the one attempting tostartit. My invention obviously is not limited vto the" particular embodiment thereof here shown and described, as the same may .be varied Within the spirit vand scope of the in# vention.

Claim. j u 1. In a motor Vehicle provided With an internal combustion engine having sparking normal positionagainst the tension ofl the tlie...greatest benefit from thel the hand `adjustment ofI v.

means, the combination with s aid engine and ignition contacts therefor, of speed 'respon-l sive means to govern the relative operation of said' contacts, and simultaneously oper-I able means independent of the speed 'responsive means to govern the relative o er' :itioii of' said maintaining a like cycle of ciigiiieoperatioii.

s'parking'ineans, means or combustible' mixture therefor, ignition. c 'ontact' devices, a speed tions for adjusting the ignition to follow'thc throttled speed of the In a -niotor vehicle the combination of an internal combustion engine provided with 'l thottliiig the` Acontat-.ts for starting, iviile 'governor and conneci engine, :ind siiniiltaneoiisly operable means separate from saidgovernor and its rounectioiis, to adj-ust the ignition for starting the engine.

3. In a motor vehicle provided withan in- 90 con i r ternal combustion engine, tlie combination with throttling means therefor of a throttle controller responsive to the speed variations ,of the engine, means to throttle the engine independently of the speed thereof, sparkingv means having a timing adjustment reoperable'governor and manuallycontrolled sparkngnicans therefor to effect findependent adjustments of the time of ignition relatively to the working stroke while maintaining the saine cycle ofengine operation.v

In a motor vehicle provided with an Yin- 'ter-nal combustion engine employing spark- .ing means, the combination with said, cii

ine, of circuit closing and breaking means mcludi a rotary contact and one or more coperating contact brushes, of governor nieansacomprising a governorand its conneetio'ns with Said circuit closing and breaking means to change the relative angular' "position of said contact and said brushes, and

meansA independent of'said governor means `to varythe position of said contact brush or ,brushes for starting the engine;

'6.'In a motor vehiclev provided with an internal combustion engine, a throttling. devioetherefor, controlling means for said throttling device responsive'to variations in .the en in e s ed, means for controllii'igr said throttmg (evie irres ective of the speed `responsive means, spar ring means having a' timing adjustment responsive also to the 'same speed variations sof. the engine, 4and -means 'also to adjustthe timing of said sparking means during engine operation independently of said ,speed controlled means 4and said throttle controlling means.

'Z In :i motor vehicle provided with an internal combustion engine, a throttling device therefor,,meansresponsive to variations in the engine speed for vcontrolling said throttling device, 'manifalpoperating means for controlling-said throttle, sparking means' for said engine having a. timing adjustment' responsive also to the same speed'variations of the engine, and manually operative means forfadjusting the timing 'of said. s arking means during engine operation in ependntly of said manually operated throttle controlling means.

8. AAn internal combustion engine' having throttling means therefor, a controlling 'deviee for said throttling means responsive to the speed variations of the engine, means' also' to control said throttling means irrespective of the speed responsive means,

`gine speed or tlic throttle control.

sparking devices having a timing adjust- 4 ment' to cause changes inf'the ignition to respend to speed changes ,in the engine, and additional controllingvmeans also to adjust the timing of said sparking nieans during engine operation.

9. In a motor` vehicle provided 'with an internal combustion engine, the combination with said engin'e of i it-ion ineansrtherefor, means responsive to t e engine speed tovary 75 the timing of i nition relatively to the work-v ing stroke, and separate controlling means also to vary the time of ignition' relatively toY the Working stroke on 4the same cycleof operation independently of the engine s eedf 80' 10. In 'a motor vehicle provided wit :en internal combustion engine employin `spark-' -u ing means, the combination with sai engineA` of ignition contacts therefor, means re sive to engine speed to adjust the spar g in advance of the: working stroke foririe'la, -a vely high speeds,` and separate controlling means to ad just said contacts independently@ Y ofsaid speed responsive'meansto provide;` retarded ignition at or Vabout the beginning i of the working stroke for starting or on rela tively slow speeds.

l1. In 'a motor vehicle an'internal come` bustion engine,'ignition contactsl for ,saidr sf. engine, aspeed` governor controlling -said95 contacts to adjust the timing ofr the engine ,ignition to correspond with-the engine an engine 'throttle aiso control-led by said governor, a controlling lever within the c011- trol o the vehicle operator', and connecting means between said `lever-and said ignition; contacts permitting the manual adjustment" ot said contactsv independently of-the en 12. In a device of the class described, the 106 combination with an internal combustion .engne provided with fuel throttling means -and ignition contacts, of speed governor means for controlling Said contacts and said throttling means, and ineansindependent thereof for separately governing the relative operation of said contacts for start-ing and independent of the action of said governor thereon.

13. In a device of the class described, anV 1115 internal combustion engine provided With sparking means, fuel throttlin'g means for said engine, means including a speed re= sponsive governor for adjusting the i ition to follow the speed oi saidcn'ine, simulta- 120- neoiisly 'operable means to adjust4 the ig'ni-4 tion for starting the engine independently of said vgt-ivernor adjustment, and means for l limiting the action of saidgovernor on said ,throttling means. i c.

i Vo'tor vehicle provided "iwith' ail-.- -internal combustion` engine having a' 'fuel' .throttlingdevice' and sparking means, the' combination therewith ozf an independently and simultaneously operable governor and T30 manually controlled sparking. means theiel In testimony whereof, I have 'signed my for, manually 'controlled Contact devices for naine to this specification, in the presence 10 said sparking means to effect independent of two subscribing Witnesses.

adjustments of said throttling device and 5 time of ignition relative to the engine speed, ANDREW L' BIKER' while maintaining the same cycle of engine Vitnesses:

.operati-on, and means for limiting the action WM. S. TEEL, J r.,

ofsaid governor onone of them. JAMES ROCHE, Jr. 

